BookLooks

War of Words: A True Tale of Newsprint and Murder

By Simon Read

When the news business was literally a matter of life and death...A real-life "Barbary Coast," "War of Words "details the bloody birth of the "San Francisco Chronicle," when verbal blows traded between two of the town's most powerful men escalated into violence on the streets of 1880s San Francisco." "Gun-toting newspaper publisher Charles de Young won circulation wars by spilling ink that destroyed political candidates he didn't like--and Isaac Kalloch, a hellfire preacher whose lust for the ladies equaled his craving to be mayor, was an obvious target. First angry words flew, then bullets, when de Young ambushed

Uncommon Defense: Indian Allies in the Black Hawk War

By John W. Hall

In the spring of 1832, when the Indian warrior Black Hawk and a thousand followers marched into Illinois to reoccupy lands earlier ceded to American settlers, the U.S. Army turned to rival tribes for military support. Elements of the Menominee, Dakota, Potawatomi, and Ho Chunk tribes willingly allied themselves with the United States government against their fellow Native Americans in an uncommon defense of their diverse interests. As the Black Hawk War came only two years after the passage of the Indian Removal Act and is widely viewed as a land grab by ravenous settlers, the military participation of these tribes seems bizarre. What explains this alliance?

Unthinkable: The True Story about the First Double Amputee to Complete the World-Famous Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon

By Scott Rigsby and Jenna Glatzer

After losing both of his legs in a car accident at age 18, Scott Rigsby battled his way back from depression and addiction to achieve the unthinkable--becoming the first double-leg amputee ever to cross the finish line in the sporting world's most grueling and prestigious competition, the Ironman Triathlon.

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Catching Fire

by Suzanne Collins

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion. This pulse-pounding sequel to The Hunger Games will not disappoint...but be forewarned: the ending is another cliffhanger!

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Two Coots in a Canoe: An Unusual Story of Friendship

By David E. Morine

When retired CEO Ramsay Peard calls his old friend Morine and asks the longtime conservationist to canoe the Connecticut River, Morine says he'd do it under one condition: no camping. Morine recounts their journey of whim, humor, and self-discovery.

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Strength in What Remains

By Tracy Kidder

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the modern classics "Mountains Beyond Mountains" and "The Soul of a New Machine" returns with the extraordinary true story of a young man and his will to turn his life into something truly remarkable.

 

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Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

By Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

"SuperFreakonomics" challenges the way we think all over again, exploring the hidden side of everything with such questions as:

How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa? Why are doctors so bad at washing their hands? How much good do car seats do? What's the best way to catch a terrorist? Did TV cause a rise in crime? What do hurricanes, heart attacks, and highway deaths have in common? Are people hard-wired for altruism or selfishness? Can eating kangaroo save the planet? Which adds more value: a pimp or a Realtor?

Shiver

by Maggie Stiefvater

Fans of paranormal romance rejoice! This is the gripping story of Grace and Sam, who have shared a secret bond for years. In the winter, he has the form of a wolf and often appears in the woods near her home, seeming to watch over her. Finally, when Grace is 17, they meet when Sam has his human form, and their secret bond becomes a full blown love affair. Their relationship is threatened by many things, not the least of which is that when it gets cold enough, Sam will turn into a wolf again and never turn back. A beautifully written story that stays with the reader long after the book is finished.

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The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta

By Marc Wortman

The destruction of Atlanta is an iconic moment in American history--it was the centerpiece of "Gone with the Wind." But though the epic sieges of Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Berlin have all been explored in bestselling books, the one great American example has been treated only cursorily in more general histories. Marc Wortman remedies that conspicuous absence in grand fashion with "The Bonfire," an absorbing narrative history told through the points of view of key participants both Confederate and Union.

Complete Painting and Drawing Handbook

Edited by Simon Suite

Aimed at the novice artist, the book is organized around simple guidelines, which help the reader to progress in a structured manner and achieve satisfying results. The book is structured into four sections - drawing, watercolor, acrylics and oils.

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